NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1971 SESSION

CHAPTER 1098
SENATE BILL 655

AN ACT TO CREATE A NORTH CAROLINA PORK PRICING STUDY COMMISSION.

Whereas, the year 1970 witnessed one of the sharpest declines ever in the farm price of hogs; and
Whereas, this decline has continued until the present time and has caused a financial crisis for many pork farmers; and
Whereas, the General Assembly is interested in determining the reasons for the unusually low prices received by pork producers and in focusing public attention on the plight of pork producers; and
Whereas, there is not now available adequate and competent information on the pricing techniques used in the marketing of pork; and
Whereas, it is essential that more accurate information be made available to the General Assembly and to the public; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Commission created; duties. — (a) There is hereby created a Pork Pricing Study Commission. This Commission is to make a comprehensive study of pork prices in North Carolina.
(b)	A report of the result of this study shall be submitted to the Governor by October 15, 1972, and to the General Assembly by January 1, 1973. This report will contain all findings and opinions of the Commission concerning the pricing techniques of pork handlers at all levels and should specifically:
(1)	Attempt to determine the causes of the low pork prices received by producers;
(2)	Attempt to determine the causes of the wide price differential between prices paid to producers and those paid by consumers;
(3)	Recommend solutions and their costs; policies and programs which should be adopted by the State, its agencies, and institutions; and legislation which should be implemented to carry out the recommendations of the Commission.
Sec. 2.  Appointment of members. — (a) The Commission shall consist of 11 members who shall be composed as follows: One member of the North Carolina Senate appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; one member of the North Carolina House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; and nine members appointed by the Governor of which one shall be a retailer of pork in North Carolina, one shall be a wholesaler of pork in North Carolina, one shall be a member of the Department of Agriculture, one shall be a member of the N. C. State University, four shall be pork producers in North Carolina, and one shall be a member of the consuming public chosen at the discretion of the Governor. If any vacancy occurs in the membership of the Commission, the Governor shall appoint another member to serve until the termination of the Commission. From the membership of the Commission, the Governor shall designate the Chairman.
(b)	Tenure of office. — Members of the Commission shall take office on July 1, 1971, or as soon thereafter as is practical and each member shall serve until the termination of the Commission. The Commission shall terminate upon the filing of its final report with the Governor and the 1973 General Assembly of North Carolina.
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 21st day of July, 1971.